This morning I had a chance to talk with one older guy who used to work in football and he told me that the Italians lost the cheapest market in European football, where there is still quality left. The ex-Yu market.
In the past, apparently, the Italians ruled this market. Their scouts were ever present, they were opening youth schools all over ex-Yu and since Italy is very close and so are the culture and mentality of the Italians, the ex-Yu players always prefer Italy over the other big countries and leagues in Europe.
I mentioned the cases of Vucinic, Jovetic, Pandev, Handanovic, Jankovic, Kolarov as a counter-argument that proves how the serie A teams are still standing strong in ex-Yu, but he shut me up with examples from the past where the other countries couldn't even think about getting their hands on Yu players before the Italians choose not to get them, and examples from the present that say how the Eastern European clubs and the EPL clubs are sending scouts and managers here week in week out, create strong links with the clubs and buy the best quality, sometimes they practically steal it, while the Italians only occasionally get the quality and often they do it only after these players prove themselves in some competitions, for which they have to pay good money (like in Jovetic's case).
Vidic, Srna, Ivanovic, Krasic, Olic etc all left from Serbia/Croatia directly to Russia/Ukraine. Modric, Kranjcar, Corluka, Kalinic and Eduardo left from Croatia to England. Tosic and Ljajic went, or almost went, to EPL. Dzeko went from Bosnia to Czech Republic. Kacar from Serbia to Germany. Sulejmani and Pranjic from their domestic leagues went to Holland etc etc etc
There are markets that produce even more quality. But the Brazilian market is too expensive and South Americans are "ruled" by the Spanish and Portuguese teams. The Portuguese market is not available while the Spanish, German or Dutch market are either unavailable for the Italians or too expensive. The ex-Yu market is much more cheaper, but even here the Italians stopped working seriously.
The only Italian team who seriously works on the ex-Yu market is Inter, followed by Milan who were standing stronger here than any other team in the world but lost interest lately. Juve's interest is almost inexistent.
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